The Seattle Storm parted ways with head coach Noelle Quinn on Sunday, and no one should really be surprised. However, if you are wondering why they did it just three days into the offseason, here’s why.
The Storm were underachieving. Full stop.
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In five seasons under Quinn from 2021 to 2025, Seattle never eclipsed the second round in the playoffs, no matter the roster or circumstances. Quinn’s teams lost in the semi-finals during her first two seasons as coach and missed the playoffs altogether in 2023. Then, in 2024, when forward Nneka Ogwumike and guard Skylar Diggins joined the Storm, they were supposed to form a “big three” with guard Jewell Loyd that would seemingly elevate the team to contender status.
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However, Seattle was bounced in the first round by the Las Vegas Aces, and Loyd was traded in the offseason. In 2025, despite retooling the roster with several new pieces and adding guard Brittney Sykes, the Storm were up and down the entire season and were ceremoniously bounced in the playoffs by the Aces again. Three days after the loss, Quinn was out.
Quite frankly, it was hard to know which version of Seattle would show up from game to game this season. One moment, the Storm looked like a powerhouse and were trolling the top teams in the league, and days later, they were struggling against franchises in the bottom third of the standings. Ultimately, that sort of inconistency and inability to bring Seattle its first title since 2020 likely cost Quinn her job. What’s more, the culture brewing in Seattle wasn’t helping the former Storm coach’s case either.
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This season alone, there was also a complaint against the team, and two other players, center Li Yueru and guard Alysha Clark, requested trades after being brought over in the offseason. Ultimately, it’s a bit messy in Seattle following Quinn’s departure, and now the team has to start all over again. It’s unclear what players will stay following her exit, but one thing remains clear. Change was needed.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why the Seattle Storm firing their coach shouldn’t surprise anyone
